"Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." - Luke 12:13

The Need to Need More Than You Need

November 10, 2008

The desire to acquire stuff is called greed. This is a huge issue in our society, just as it was when Christ walked the earth. Jesus tells the parable of a rich man who had had such a good year that he had run out of places to store his crops and other treasures. He decides to solve this “problem” by building bigger and bigger barns so he could have a place for all his new stuff. With all these new riches, he reassures himself that he can now take it easy and spend the next few years eating, drinking, and merry-making. Doesn’t this sound great? It’s the American dream! He’s got everything he needs and much, much more! Only he didn’t realize that God would say, “You fool – didn’t you realize that this very night your soul would will be required of you?”

This man never gave a thought to the fact that it was God who had blessed him and entrusted him with all this stuff. No, he thought it was his doing. He earned it all by himself, truly a self-made man. Trouble is, this ownership mentality leads to greed and hoarding, and ignoring God. This man was rich in the world’s eyes and poor in God’s eyes. It led to a pitiful entry into eternal poverty.

Remember – the need to need more than you need equals greed. Being rich in your relationship with God is a richer way to live – forever.